You need to make sure that any keyboard you buy has, at minimum, 61 touch sensitive keys and support for a sustain pedal. At $50, I can pretty well guarantee you that the Alesis does not. At $140, the Yamaha might or might not -- that's about the price where you start seeing touch sensitivity, so be sure to check the specs. The most commonly recommended 61 key keyboard that I see in this sub is the Casiotone CT-S1 if you're sure you don't mind having fewer than 88 keys (much of the time, 61 keys will be plenty, but it does depend on what you're playing.) Answer from Tyrnis on reddit.com
Jeremy See
jeremysee.info › post › the-best-yamaha-keyboard-you-can-buy
Yamaha CK61 - The BEST Yamaha Keyboard You Can Buy!
May 23, 2023 - This keyboard is designed to be versatile enough for use in any performance scenario. I was immediately at ease playing on this for Sunday worship, in my studio connected to a DAW, jamming at my neighbor’s barbeque or even just noodling with ...
Yamaha
usa.yamaha.com › products › musical_instruments › keyboards › portable_keyboards › index.html
Portable Keyboards - Keyboard Instruments - Musical Instruments - Products - Yamaha USA
The latest PSR-EW425 features a ... and as a premium organ sound sampled from the YC series of high-end stage keyboards. The PSR-E400 series is an excellent all-round 61-key keyboard ......
Videos
01:29:43
Yamaha PSR SX720 Review - YouTube
09:29
The Best Battery-Powered Keyboard? Yamaha CK61 Outdoor Test - YouTube
12:22
Big Updates for the Yamaha YC & CP Stage Keyboards! - YouTube
25:46
Yamaha PSR-SX700 | Demo and Review - YouTube
02:59
Play it Again #4 Second Hand Spotlight: Yamaha CK61 Keyboard (Stock ...
Sweetwater
sweetwater.com › store › detail › CK61--yamaha-ck61-61-key-stage-piano › reviews
Yamaha CK61 61-key Stage Piano Reviews | Sweetwater
May 24, 2023 - Initially, I was concerned that ... adapt to the size and feel of this keyboard. The sounds are excellent and easy to access and combine the speakers are sufficient for rehearsal....
Piano Tone
pianotone.ca › home › yamaha yc-61 review
Yamaha YC-61 Review: Great Stage Keyboard - Piano Tone
January 24, 2025 - As an example, the SK Pro has what Hammond (and a lot of reviewers) said was a VASTLY improved main piano sample from its predecessor, the Hammond SK-1. And that “vastly improved” piano sample is a Yamaha sample, and from what I can tell, sounds VERY close (if not identical) to the piano sample on my Yamaha PSR-EW425 keyboard. And while that is an awesome piano sample (especially in my $500USD PSR-EW425), it pales in comparison to the CFX Grand piano sample included in the YC-61. So overall, I would give the edge to the SK Pro in terms of Hammond sounds & features & key action, and I would give the edge to the Yamaha YC-61 in terms of user interface, non organ sounds, build quality & price.
Yamaha
shop.usa.yamaha.com › en › p › instruments › keyboards-synthesizers › stage-keyboards › ck61-61-key-stage-keyboard
CK61 61-Key Stage Keyboard - Yamaha USA
CK61 61-Key Stage Keyboard · 2 ... · Specs · Reviews · With authentic piano, organ and synth sounds, intuitive controls and built-in speakers, the CK88 makes everywhere a stage or studio....
Reddit
reddit.com › r/piano › 61-key yamaha or alesis keyboard piano for an amateur player?
r/piano on Reddit: 61-key Yamaha or Alesis keyboard piano for an amateur player?
April 4, 2022 -
I'm not a complete novice because I used to play the piano for fun from middle school to high school, so I'm wondering if a 61-key keyboard will enough. I was considering purchasing the YAMAHA YPT260 61-Key Portable Keyboard for roughly $140 on Amazon, but I recently discovered the Alesis Talent 61-Key Portable Keyboard for $49.99 at Walmart. Because I'm a college student, I'm concerned about cost, therefore I'm wondering if the Alesis is adequate or if I should pay more and purchase the Yamaha. Any and all recommendations will be greatly welcomed!
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You need to make sure that any keyboard you buy has, at minimum, 61 touch sensitive keys and support for a sustain pedal. At $50, I can pretty well guarantee you that the Alesis does not. At $140, the Yamaha might or might not -- that's about the price where you start seeing touch sensitivity, so be sure to check the specs. The most commonly recommended 61 key keyboard that I see in this sub is the Casiotone CT-S1 if you're sure you don't mind having fewer than 88 keys (much of the time, 61 keys will be plenty, but it does depend on what you're playing.)
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Depends on what you're playing. If you're playing classical I would argue you'd be much better off with 88-key keyboard.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/keys › absolute beginner. want to buy a keyboard, 61/66 keys. what do you recommend?
r/keys on Reddit: Absolute beginner. Want to buy a keyboard, 61/66 keys. What do you recommend?
December 5, 2024 -
I'm a big music fan and sick of just sitting on the sidelines. I want to at least be able to play some of my faves and be inspired to just riff around and enjoy. I do want to add guitar afterward but I want to learn to play on a keyboard.
What do you recommend?
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Yamaha's lower tiered PSR series keyboards are good entry level units. I recently purchased a PSR-EW425 to replace a fully functional, but very outdated PSR-32. The 425 has 76 keys as does the similar PSR-EW320. The 61 key version of the 425 is the PSR-E473, and the 61 key version of the 320 is the PSR-E383. 🙂
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Yamaha 61 key with touch sensitive. Best bang for the buck and great piano sound. Just make sure it has touch sensitivity. It’s like sub 200 bucks
Strait Music
straitmusic.com › p-130110-yamaha-psr-e283-entry-level-61-key-portable-keyboard.aspx
Strait Music - Yamaha PSR-E283 Entry Level 61-Key Portable Keyboard
This entry-level keyboard for beginners motivates and entertains — all while taking your playing to a higher level. The PSR-E283 gives you all the tools to enjoy and practice, including 410 realistic instrument Voices, fun sound effects, and encouraging Lessons.
Andy's Music
andysmusic.com › home › shop products › keyboards › portable keyboards › yamaha psr-e383 61-key piano keyboard
Yamaha PSR-E383 Touch Sensitive 61-Key Portable Keyboard – Andy's Music
Yamaha PSR-E383 61-Key Piano Keyboard
The Yamaha PSR-E383 piano keyboard boasts 61 keys and is one of the best electronic keyboards for beginners. It has an impressive variety of quality voices and styles and paves the way for a world of musical entertainment.
The PSRE383 keyboard piano now features 622 voices, 11 Super Articulation Lite voices, 205 styles, 153 preset songs, and Smart Chord for easy chord play.The Yamaha PSR-E383 music keyboard is not only one of the best portable keyboards available in 2025, but it also offers an onboard lesson feature that will help you enhance your skills for years to come. Additionally, you ca
Price $169.99
Guitar Center
guitarcenter.com › home › keyboards & midi › 61 key keyboards & midi › yamaha
Yamaha 61 Key Keyboards & MIDI | Guitar Center
/61 Key Keyboards & MIDI · /Yamaha · Select Filters · sortBy · Best Match · 31 matches found · Display: 24 · Top-Seller · (4) $2,499.99 · On Sale · (4) $3,149.99$3,499.99 · (4) $2,099.99 · Top-Seller · (40) $399.99 · Top-Seller · (1) $1,599.99 ·
Yamaha
shop.usa.yamaha.com › en › p › instruments › keyboards-synthesizers › portable-keyboards › ypt-280-61-key-beginners-portable-keyboard
YPT-280 61-Key Beginners Portable Keyboard - Yamaha USA
The YPT-280 is a starter keyboard featuring easy learning tools, hundreds of sounds, and an intuitive design. Enjoy and explore music – and have fun, too! 61 Full-sized Keys - Just the right size for beginners developing their playing technique.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/synthesizers › how good is yamaha ck 61 ?
r/synthesizers on Reddit: How good is Yamaha Ck 61 ?
July 23, 2025 -
So iam on the makert for a good stage keys,preferably 61 keys idc about the keybed that much i have heard yamaha ck61 i wanna know if anyone here can let me know if its sum that i can use in my productions i mainly do soulful stuff rnb alternative iam mainly using keyscape for the key sounds i would love some that could give me that same feeling or better does anyone here recommend ck61 for that ?
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I have one and it’s pretty good, synths sound very good, organ has a couple that are just amazing the rest are meh, piano is based on Yamaha grands so they sound great, keybed on the 61 is synth action so it will feel cheapish if you’re used to weighted keys
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I absolutely love my CK-61. Sounds awesome, great interface, great fx, great keybed IME, great midi implementation, line in + Bluetooth in, sub $1k. Pretty hard to beat if you like to play synths like a piano.
Gearspace
gearspace.com › home › the forums › electronic music instruments and electronic music production › recommend a 61-key keyboard/digital piano
Recommend a 61-Key Keyboard/Digital Piano - Gearspace
December 3, 2021 - For piano, the nicest feeling non-hammer 61 I've played is Korg's Vox Continental. Meets your specs, except for being a bit pricier. At 40-13/16", the NP12 is not the narrowest 61, and so if you can go just a little wider, you might be able to get more keys. I haven't played the Dexibell S1, but I've heard good things about its action... it's 68 key and only slightly bigger than that Yamaha at 43" wide.
Amazon
amazon.com › Yamaha-61-Key-Portable-Keyboard-PSRE473 › dp › B09PRSNDGJ
Amazon.com: YAMAHA, 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Advanced Portable Keyboard with Power Adapter, (PSRE473) : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Designed for music creation and performance, the Yamaha PSR-E473 61-Key Portable Keyboard features an Advanced Sound Engine, Live Control Knobs, and Groove Creator for next-level performances.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/piano › is getting a 61 key keyboard a bad idea?
r/piano on Reddit: is getting a 61 key keyboard a bad idea?
October 22, 2023 -
ive been using a 49 key midi to learn for my first 3 months and im now planning on getting a keyboard. the kurzweil KP-80 looks really nice and has everything i need, but it only has 61 keys. i dont want to waste money and/or have less features if those extra keys are just going to be collecting dust (my budget is ~£400)
and as for my intentions: i am just playing (self taught) as a hobby. i dont really care what im playing but im really interested in learning music theory in the somewhat future.
thanks for reading and forgive my ignorance.
edit: decided on getting an 88 key as i think it will suit me better. thanks for all the help!
Top answer 1 of 25
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if you are playing because you want to play piano, then yes it's useless, 88 keys or nothing, if you are playing as a keyboardist then the upgrade might be worth depending on the quality and functions of the new instrument
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I would go with a weighted key digital piano if you want to learn piano. It's not the number of keys that are the problem, probably most music fits within those keys, but that they are a synthesizer type keyboard rather than a weighted keyboard. In other words, playing it feels like pushing buttons rather than like playing a piano. Something like this would be better if your goal is learning piano: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-P45B/dp/B00UJ9LNDK BUT, you may have some other purpose for the other functionalities of the KP-80. If you need the other features on the Kurzweil, then I would search for those features but with a weighted keyboard.
Piano World
forums.pianoworld.com › ubbthreads.php › topics › 2937560 › re-new-yamaha-yc61.html
New Yamaha YC61 - Piano World Piano & Digital Piano Forums
Totally have G.A.S. for this one. A nice partner for a digital piano.
Amazon
amazon.com › Yamaha-Portable-Keyboard-Adapter-Amazon-Exclusive › dp › B077C4WXB8
Amazon.com: YAMAHA YPT260 61-Key Portable Keyboard with Power Adapter (Amazon-Exclusive) : Musical Instruments
When it comes to reproducing the sound of these instruments in a keyboard, the results are detailed and high-quality. Auto accompaniment Styles provide real-time band backing tracks. The band automatically follows your lead based on the chords you play. Duo mode allows two people to play together on the same instrument by creating two middle C notes. Enjoy playing the piano with friends and family.
Walmart
walmart.com › ip › Yamaha-61-Key-Portable-Keyboard › 1497230043
Yamaha 61 Key Full-Size Compact Portable Piano Keyboard - Walmart.com
Yamaha 61 Key Portable Keyboard
The Yamaha PSR-E273 is a portable arranger keyboard with a host of features designed to make learning easy and fun for beginners. The unit sports 61 full-size keys and 401 realistic onboard sounds that are exciting and interesting to play, including acoustic and electric instruments, drums, sound effects, and of course, a grand piano. Built-in speakers and a headphone jack make it ready for both your home recitals and private practice sessions. FeaturesBuilt-in effects foster creativityCompact and lightweight design makes it incredibly portable143 accompaniment styles enable you to play along
Price $150.60
Heid Music
heidmusic.com › home › shop by category › piano › portable keyboards › yamaha psr-e383 61-key portable keyboard
Heid Music | Yamaha PSR-E383 61-Key Portable Keyboard
Yamaha PSR-E383 61-Key Portable Keyboard
The PSR-E383 is the perfect portable keyboard for beginners and music lovers alike. Loaded with fun learning tools, stunning sounds, a vast library of songs, and a host of backing styles, the PSR-E383 lays the foundation for awesome piano technique. With 61 touch-sensitive keys, you’ll quickly grasp the essence of dynamics (playing soft or loud) while refining your piano-playing skills. You’ll also find a vast number of instrument Voices at your fingertips — guitars, horns, drums, and much more.
In addition to the beautifully realistic sounds of Yamaha grand pianos, there are 650 built-in Voic
Price $169.99
eBay
ebay.com › books, movies & music › musical instruments & gear › pianos, keyboards & organs › electronic keyboards › yamaha 61 keys electronic keyboards
Yamaha 61 Keys Electronic Keyboards for sale | eBay
So glad I purchased this keyboard. It is a wonderful, affordable option for great sound, good action (not weighted hamm... see all reviews ... This is an absolutely fantastic keyboard - the best I have had and, I have had many including earlier Yamahas, Roland a...